Clothes drier



Aug. 13, 1935.

CLOTHES. DRIER Filed Sept; 1, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. SEKAVEC 2,011,504

v load within the capacity of toreveal the lower *squeezer member;

Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 2,011,504 CLOTHES mm 7 Joseph Sekavec, "Chicago; I Application September 1, 193-2, serial No. $31 362 8 Claims. (Cl. 100-450.)

My invention relates to improved clothes driers tor-laundry purposes, preferably, though not necessarily, of a type which can be conveniently associated with domestic washing machines.

object primarily is to provide a structure by which a compressive for'c'e is applied to a body or mass of clothes in a suitable 'ves'sel or receptacle with sufiicient intensity to squeeze the water from the mass, and render the clothesd-ry to that extent that they are in condition for hanging to complete the drying in the usual way.

A further object isto provide a clothes drier structure which will have a elothes receptacle adequate for rinsing purposes and will'have with in said receptacle a compressing or squeezing mechanism capable of squeezing water from the clothes to the desired degree or dryness.

A further object is to provide a drier structure of this character having a vessel 'or receptacle for the clothes and having compressing or squeezing mechanism therein which is adaptabletodifieifent'volumes or masses of clothes and will just as effectively and uniformly remove the water from a relatively small load as from the maximum the particular structure employed, my purpose being further to provide a novel and practicable means for readily adjusting the capacity of the structure to the particular volume of clothes to be treated. a

-A further object of my invention is to provide asimple and extremely practicable power mach anism for supplying the necessary compressive force to the squeezers within the vessel or recep tacle, which power mechanism is preferablyy though not necessarily,

intended to be motor driven and which will not interferewith the use of the receptacle for rinsing purposes.

Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, a drier struc ture is illustrated, which'ernbodie's the principles of myinvention. In thesedrawings, Figlisa vertical sectional view of the com: plete drier structure including the rinsingrecep= tacle, squeezing mechanism and. the power mach anism for the operation thereof;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line-2 2' of Fig. l, illustrating the uppersqueezer :head or cover plate, and with'portions broken away and Fig. 3 -is a horizontal :section on the "line 3+3 of Fig. .2, illustrating the hydraulicpressure cylinders and the pumping mechanism .for pumping fluid .to the cylinders.

p {The structure in general includes a cylindrical,

wall which merges with the vessel or receptacle A, bf -"suflie-ient diameter and depth to provide adequate capacity for rinsing purposes. This container is preferably supported by suitable legs height "from the floor and can be provided with casters if desired, so that the machine is readily portable. Beneath the receptacle the hydraulic power -mechanism B is positioned.

The receptacle is preferably made of suitable "sheet metal and is closed at its bottom" wall -2 which merges with the vertical side wall 3. The upper end of the receptacle is open ior accessto the interior therebe The upper margina poruon of the wall '3" is enlarged in diameter teform an annular shoulder '4 which merges with the side to assist in centering and guiding the removable cover or "squeezrhead-wheh it is inserted into the receptacle. The lower portion of the side bottom wan is preferabl-y straight vertically and provides "a well '6 the bottom into which the water drains which is squeezed or compressed from the clothes A drain cock 1 is provided. at the bottom oi the receptacle for the purpose of draining off the water therefrom.

Between the straight-sided lower portion ofth'e- I tcvpos'ition it at the proper lower end by a wall in a rounded. edge 5 vessel and the u er marginal portion thereof,

the side wall is provided with .a series of interior horizontal parallel shoulders or retainer memhas 158 :ex -tendii ig throughout the entire circumi'erence of the receptacle. I-f thevessel is made of sheet meta'l; these shoulders can be conveni iently formed :by corrugating the metal to form annular grooves 110a), but it is understood that they may be constructed in any other manner suitable :for. the purpose; The purpose of these shoulders is to provide retainer means at dif ferent levels or heights of the receptacle to which the cover member or upper squeezer head may be adjusted to vary the capacity of the error n accordance with the de si-redsuuantity of clothes to te compressed. I

The cover or upper squeezer member preferably comprises a flat circular disc or plate 12 of 'sufiitacle wall and prevent the escapeof water when.

members IS on engage the shoulder l0 and retain the cover plate The advantage l0 extending entirely. around the vessel wall is that the coverneed not be rotat ably'adjusted to any particular position but may positioned with relation to stationary at its adjusted-level. of having shoulders be indiscriminately the retaining shoulders. The segments :are comparatively wide, so that collectively they occupy a considerable. portion of the circumference of the shoulders and effectively distribute the strains {imposed thereon by thepressure applied to the side of thercover plate.

7 the lockingsegments in -closeproxirnity to the 'marginal edges thereof, which effectively precover plate when the clothes are being compressed. The outeredges .l6.of these segments are preferably curved onthe same radius as the shoulders so that they will conform to the curvature of the wall. .Ihese segmental, latches-or keepers have radially disposed tongues 1 which slide in guides l8 suitably formedon ,the'upper The segments rest upon the marginal flange l3 ofthe cover plate whereby the pressure on the cover plateis applied to vents bending or distortion of the locking segments.

- The locking segments are actuated by means of acentrally disposed operating handle I8 which is carried by an upstanding 'post [9. The post has a reduced shank journaled in a bearing formed in an upstanding boss 2| in the center of the cover plate and is heldin place-bya'washer 22',

secured by a screw 23 to the.lower endof the shank. A disc24 is splined to the shank 20 above the boss 2| and is rotatable by the-handle. The

outermargin of the disc 24 bears upon an integral 7 upstanding'circular rib 25formedon the upper .applied. The cover e h I 'forcedby. integral radial ribs 21 extendingbeside of thejcover plate.

Links 25 are pivotallylconnected to this central disc 24 and to the tongues ll of the locking segments, and operate in conjunction'with the center disc to form toggles forshifting the locking segments radially whenthehandle is rotated. I

- It will thus be seen that when the segments-are withdrawn, the cover plate can be conveniently inserted into or removed from the vessel or adjustedto, any desiredIheight-or level. Y By simply rotating the operating handle and thereby ,pro-

. jecting the locking segments beyond the periphinto engagement with the cry of thecover plate shoulders; l0 of the receptacle wall, the coverplate can be firmly locked in place and the struc: time made capable ofresisting the pressure when plate can .be further reintween the circular rib 25 and the marginal flange.

the upper end thereof downwardlybelow the bot tom thereof. This outer casing'is preferably formed to the'contour 01 theoutside of the vesmembers. As the cup members 43 sel structure and is preferably welded at various points to unite the receptacleand this casing in a rigid structure. The casing finishes off the power mechanism. 7

The movablesqueezerhead or member is' in the form of aYdisc or plate having a-fiat upper.

surface 36 and a depending integral marginal flange 31 for reinforcement. This memberoccupies a position inthe lower portion than the inner the receptacle to provide clearance and permit the Water to drain into the well. sure head, in a sense, formsa table in the receptacle upon which the clothes are placed. It is low enough to notinterfere with the use of the receptacle for rinsing. purposes, the receptacle being simply filled with water to the desired level above the pressure member.

The pressure member, however, is movable toward and from the upper head or cover and'is actuated by power rmechanism to compress or; of clothes between these 1 two? squeeze the body distributed throughout the areaofthe disc 35.'.' From the well the water as "through the drain-cock 1. c f In the present structure, I provide hydraulimovable plungers These cylinder vertically and there arepreferably three ofthem'arranged, as equilateral tri upper ends of the plungers through the medium of universal bearings which permit the pressure head to-adapt itself to varying thicknesses of the recep- 1tacle and is preferably of sufiiciently less diameter diameter of the lower portion of The lower presbosses 44 integrallyformed on theunderxside' of V the squeezer disc 36.

, flanges 45 and are held in place by the flanged rings 46 which engage "said fianges"45."' The necessary toga'in accessito th'e well below. The main 'pressure' cylinders are shown at being formed integrally with the bottom 'wall 2 of the receptacle, although they facturing reasons, be formed separatelyif d may, for menu-I be clamped tightly upon surrounds the periphery of the sired. The lower ends of the cylinder chambers are reduced in diameter to form shoulders '48 which serve as lower limit stops for the plungers and at the same time provide a fluid chamber below the plunger for insuring the entrance of operating fluid beneath the ends of the pistons.

Within the center of the triangle formed by a .group of pistons, a reservoir 58 is positioned, which contains the supply of fluid, such as ,oil, which is pumped into the cylinders for actuating the plungers. This reservoir has lateral arms 5| radiating therefrom to the cylinders, and these arms have at their ends rings 52 which surround the lower ends of the cylinders. The rings are split diametrically on the line 53 whereby their outer portions 54 are detachable, and both portions of the rings are provided with outstanding lugs :55 through which clamping bolts 56 extend. The parts are so proportioned that the rings can the cylinders and thereby support the reservoir and its associated parts firmly in proper position with relation to the cylinders. 7 The outstanding arms Eli are bored out cylindrically to form cylinders for small pump pistons 51 adapted to be reciprocated therein. These pistons have communicating longitudinal ports 58 (Fig. 3) and transverse ports 59, the ports 59 communicating with the supply of fluid in'the reservoir to admit fluid to the pump cylinders ahead of the pistons. These ports 53 are controlled by ball check valves 66 which admit .oil to the pump cylinders on the return stroke of the piston and which close on the forward stroke of the piston. In like manner, the outer ends of the pump cylinders communicate through ports 6| with the lower ends of the cylinders ii) which'ports are likewise controlled by ball check valves 62 for admitting fluid to the cylinders '49 on the pressure stroke of the pistons and close the ports upon the return stroke of the pistons.

The individual pistons El are actuated from a vertical shaft $3 within the reservoir, this shaft being provided with suitable bearings fi l in the upper and lower walls of said reservoir. The shaft carries an eccentric member 6'5 which is positioned in relation to the inner ends of the pump pistons whereby when the eccentric member is rotated by the shaft, it will. impart outward or pumping strokes to the pistons. A loose ring '65 eccentric member' and is interposed between said member and the ends of the pistons so that the eccentric member revolveswithin this ring, the purpose in this construction being to reduce the amount of relative movement between the ends of the pistons and the eccentric member to eliminate undue wear. Each of the pistons are yieldingly urged inwardly toward the eccentric member by springs 61 within the pump cylinders thereby providing for the return strokes of the pistons. At its lower end, the operating shaft ea carries a pulley 68 for a driving belt 89 which can be driven froman electric motor or any other suitable source of power not shown.

It is thus seen that when the shaftis driven, it will operate the individual pumps and force fluid-into the main cylinders for actuating the pressure plungers 4|, thus forcing the squeezer head upwardly against the mass of clothes between the squeezer heads and forcing the water from the clothes. In the structure shown, I prefer to interconnect the main operating cylinders to equalize the pressure developed therein. For this purpose pipes 10 extend between each of the cylinders and I tioning said stationary communieatetherewith in the lower portions thereof through the ports Tl. Cross-connecting the cylinders in this manner permits any one or two of the pumps to supply fluid under pressure to all of the cylinders in more-of the pumps become damaged or the valves .fail-topperate. It is desirable to have apressure relief valve 12 of any suitable or standard type "which'can be set to operate at any desired predetermined pressure and which, when it responds to excess pressure, will by-pass the fluid to the reservoir. This valve is connected, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, for convenience in one of thecrossconnecting pipes 70 .andits outlet port is connected by the by-pass 13 to the reservoir. In the event that the pressure in the system becomes greater thanthat for which the valve 12 is adjusted, the excess pressure operates said valve 12 and permits the pumped fluid to return through the by-pass F3 to the reservoir. Apipe i i, as shown in Fig. 1, extends from the bottom of one of the pressure cylinders 4 and communicates with the upper end of the reservoir through a suitable hand-operated valve 15, to return the fluid from the pressure cylinders to the reservoir when it is desired to re:- lease the pressure on squeezer head. This valve is normally closed during the operation of the pumps, but when opened it permits the oil to flowfrcm all of the pressure cylinders through the cross-connecting pipe 16 and the return pipe l4 into the reservoir.

'While -I have herein shown and described .a structure which is well adapted to carry out the principles of my invention, it is obvious that changes may'be'made in the construction, operas 'tion and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I contemplatesuch changes as fairly fall within the scopev of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a clothes drier'of the class described, the

the event that one or 1 the clothes and lower the said heads, and including a plate, locking means mounted on said plate, and means on the interior, wall of the receptacle forming a plurality of annular channels at different levels, and adapted to be engaged at any point in the circumference of said-channels by said locking means for hold.- ing the squeezer head in the position to which it is adjusted.

2. In a clothes drier of the class described, the combination of a receptacle for the clothes and a pair of squeezer members within said receptacle and between which the clothes are adapted to be compressed to force water therefrom, one of said squeezer members being stationary and the other being movable toward and from said stationary member, locking members on said station ary member, means on the stationary member for actuating said locking means, means on the interior wall of said receptacle forming annular channels disposed in parallel relation at different levels, said locking members on said stationary member being adapted to engage said channels at any point, in the circumference thereof for posimember relatively to the movable member for varying the compression space between said members, and power means for I actuating said movable member.

3. In a clothes drier of the class described, the

combination of a cylindrical receptacle having an open upper end and a plurality'of annular interior shoulders around its wall at different levels,

a cover member rotatable withm the receptacle and adjustable to said different levels and hav- .taining plate, and means upper end and a ing locking membersfor detachably engaging the shoulder at the level to which the' cover is adjusted and in any rotated position of the cover,

a bottom compressor plate in; said vreceptacle spaced below the coverv and between which-and the cover the clothes are adapted to be positioned, and power mechanismfor forcing the compressor plate toward the cover to compress the clothes therebetween.

, I 4. In a structure of the class described, the combination of alcylindrical Vessel having an open upper end and a closed bottom, aplurality of retaining members on; its inner side wall arranged 1 at different levels with respect to the height of jthe'vessel and extending annularly around said .wall, a removable cover vessel to different levels corresponding to said redevices and having at its margin locking with said retaining demembers for cooperation 7 circumference thereof,

vices Sat any point in the means carried by said cover plate for actuating 7 said locking members to engage the retaining devices and in the level to which the cover plate is adjusted, a movable plate within the lower portion of the container and spaced below the cover 7 5; In a'structure of the class described the combination of a cylindricalvessel having an open closed bottom, a plurality of rewall arranged taining devices .on its inner side 7 at different levelswith respect to the height of the vessel and extending annularly around: said Wall, a removable cover plate adjustable in said vessel 'to difierent'levels corresponding to said retaining devices and having at its margin radially movable locking members for cooperation with said retaining devices at any'point in the circumference thereof, means carried by said cover plate for actuating said locking: members to engage the retaining device at the level to, which the cover plate is adjusted, a movable plate within 7 the lower portion of the container and spaced be 'low the cover plate and power means for actuating said movable plate.

6. In a structure of the class described, the

combination of a cylindrical vessel open at its plate adjustable. in' said for actuating said movable V plate to force'it toward the positioned cover plate and compress the. clothes within said space;

' plate to squeeze-the ber adapted water from the clothes.

upper end and closed'at its lower end, a plurality of annular shoulders formed in the side wall of said vesseland arranged in parallel spaced relation with respect to the height of the vessel; "a

plate in said vessel adjustable to the different heights represented by said annular shoulders, a plurality of latch members distributed around the margin of said plate and movableradially into and out of engagement with the shoulder with'respect to which the plate is adjusted and at any point inthe circumference of'saidshoulders,

an operating handle carried by'said plate for actuating said latch members, a compressor plate within the vessel spaced from said plate, and means for forcing said compressor plate toward said plate to squeeze water from clothes pos'itioned between said plate and said compressor plate; e

7. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a cylindricalvessel having a closed bottom and an open upper end and having integrally formed in its side wall a plurality of annular corrugations arranged in parallel'spaced relaa removable cover plate relatively adjust able in said vessel to different levels repres'ented.

rality of parallel annular grooves formed in, its

wall, a removable cover member "forming a sta tionary head adjustableto different depths with in said receptaclecorresponding to said grooves around the margin of said 'cover' and means for positioning said cover'member at said difierent depths and including radially movable locking members carried by said cover memto engage said in the circumference thereof, a compressor member spaced below said cover member within which space the clothes to be treated are positioned, and

grooves at any point power mechanism for actuating said compressor 7 member toward said cover member to squeeze the JOSEPH SEKAVEC. 

